Device for automatically supplying washing solutions to washing machines



octgz, .1930. E D R N 1,779,466

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYiNG WASHING SOLUTIONS IO WASHING MACHINES Filed May 16. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 28, 1930. 1,779,466

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYING WASHING SOLUTIONSYTO WASHING MACHINES E. D. EDGREN Filed May 16, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fitter/Mega.

Oct. 28, 1930. E. D. EDGREN ,4

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYING' WASHING SOLUTIbNS To WASHING MACHINES Filed May ,16, 1929 Sheets-Sheet s EDEQgPHQZJv E. D. EDGREN Oct. 28, 1930.

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYING WASHING SOLUTIONS TO WASHING MACHINES Filed May 16, 1929 4 SheetsSheet 4 OOQO O O o Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES ERNST mwrn menu, or

LOS ANGE lI-ES, CALIFORNIA DEVIGE FOB AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYING WASHING SOLUTIONS TO WASHING MACHINES Application filed May 16,

For the sake of illustration, it .might be stated that in washing articles in laundries, the washing and bleaching solutions are fed to the machine in predetermined quantities,

according to the character of the articles being washed to insure the proper cleaning of the articles.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide means for auto- 19 matically and proportionately feeding the washing and bleaching solutions to the washing machine to the end that certain formulas in the mixing of the-solutions may be accurately carried'out.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for controlling the valves that in turn regulate the passage of material to the washing machine, whereby the operationsof the valves may be adjusted at the will cc of the operator to facilitate the cleaning of certain articles.

With the foregoing view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com- 26 bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a washing machine showing an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention as connected therewith.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the machine. T

Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevational 49 view of the controlling wheel.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1. i

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken onllne 5'5 of Figure 1.

' 6 I Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7 7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 1s a sect onal view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5.

and other objects in 1929. Serial No. 363,618.

. Figure 9 is a longitudinal. "sectional view through one of the valve members.

Figure 10 is a sectional view'taken on line 101O of Figure 9. a

Figure 11 is a fragmental plan view taken 55 aPPIiOXlmQtGlY on the line 11-11 of Figure FigurelQ is an elevational view of a tank for containing cleaning or bleaching material.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the drum'of a washing machine is indicated by the reference character 5, the same being of the usual and well known construction and provided with a discharge opening 6 at the bottom thereof, the discharge opening being normally closed by the valve 7 carried at one end of the arm 8 which in turn has connec- 7 tion with the lever 9 to move therewith, there being provided a coiled-spring 10 .conne'cted with the lever 9: and anchored at its opposite end to normally exerta pressure on the valve' 7 to close the discharge opening 6,

Extending into. the bottom of the drum 5, is a pipe 11 which communicates with the tubular casing 12 in which the float 13 operates, the float being secured to the lower end ofthe rod 14 that extends upwardly through the guide 15, where it connects with the arm 16 of the valve operating mechanism to be hereinafter more fully described. p The washing solution, which comprises cold water, hot water, bleaching solution, soap in a liquid form, and steam, and which is fed to the drumh in predetermined quantities, passes through the pipes 17 that are in communication with a substantially large horizontal pipe 18 which in turn communicates with the interior of the drum 5, through the elbow' 19.

- Certain of the pipes 17 are in communi cation with the tanks 20 and 21 respectively, the tank 20 being for the purpose of containing and supplying a smtable bleaching solution, while the tank 21'fis designed to contain soap or similar detergent in liquid form. One of the pipes 17 communicates with a. cold water supply pipe 22, .whileanother pipe 17 communicates with a hot water pipe 23, while steam is supplied to the drum 5, from a suitable source of steam supply, through the pipes 24 and 25 respectively.

The material passing from the tanks 20 and 21 and supply pipes, to the pipes 17, is controlled by the action of the valves 26, each of which comprising a valve proper 27 which is carried at one end of the rod 28 operating through the bearing member 33 adjustably supported on the rods 35' and held against movement by set screws 34'. The opposite ends of the rods 35' are held together by means of the bar 36 through which the rods extend. The rod 28 extends into'the cylinder 29 and is supplied with a piston 30. A coiled spring 31 is disposed in each cylinder 29 and acts against the piston 30 associated therewith, to return the piston to its normal position after the air pressure in the cylinder has been relieved.

The valve controlling the passage of water to the drum 5 is substantially the same as the valves previously described, except the rod for actuating the valve proper is divided, the ends of the rod which are indicated by the reference character 32 and 33, are normally spaced apart so. that when the piston associated therewith is moved, under .normal conditions, the valve 27 associated therewith will remain in its closed position, but when it is desired to admit cold water to the drum, the arm 16 is moved downwardly between the adjacent ends of the rod which are normally spaced from each other to the end that when the piston moves, pressure will be exerted on the divided rod to operate the valve, admitting cold water.

It is obvious that as the. water rises in the drum 5, the Water willseek its level in the tubular casing 12 causing the float 13 to rise moving the rod 14 and consequently elevating the arm 16 to cause it to disengage the adjacent ends of the rod preventing the flow of water to the drum 5. Pipes 34 connect with the valves and have downwardly extended portions connecting with the valve 35, each of which comprises a valve chamber 36 formed with a valve seat against which the valve proper 37 engages, the valve being normally held to its seat by means of the coiled spring 38 bearing thereagainst. The pipes 34. connect with the valves 36 through lateral openings 39 under the valves 37 so that when the valves 37 are elevated or -moved from their seats, air may pass through the valves 36 and into the pipes 34 to operate the valves 27 as described. The valves 36 communicate with the chamber 40 through pipes 41, the chamber 40 being in communicationwith a suitable compressed air supply through the pipe 42. Each valve 37 includes a plunger 43 pro vided with longitudinal grooves 43. Associated with each valve is a rod 45 that has a reduced end 48' extending through an opening in the bottom of the valve chamber 36 to engage the plunger 43 to elevate the plunger and unseat the valve 37. Each rod 45 is provided with a tapered portion 49 adapted to close the opening in the bottom of the valve chamber 36 associated therewith, to prevent air from passing therefrom when the valve 37 is elevated, but permit air to exhaust therefrom after the valve 26 associated therewith has been operated.

As clearly shown these rods 45 are normally seated at the outer ends of the arms 46 to raise therewith. A block 52 is connected with each arm 46 and is adjustable longitudinally of the arm 46, by the screws 53. Associated with each block 52 is a plate 52 mounted at the lower end of the block 53' which is secured to the arm 54 extending from the frame of the machine, the block being secured to the arm 54 by means of the set screw 55. By moving plate 52 the surface with which the contact lugs engage may 7 be varied to change the length of throw of the valves. Mounted on the shaft 51 to move therewith, is a timing wheel indicated at 54 and comprises a hub 55 and circular end members 56, the end members 56 being provided with spaced openings 57 to receive the rods 58 that connect the members 56.

These rods 58 have curved ends 59 on which coiled springs 60 are positioned, the coiled springs having one of their respective ends positioned over a rod adjacent to the rod on which the coiled springs are positioned, the opposite ends of the coiled springs engaging the curved ends of the rods to normally hold them against movement. The timing wheel also includes contact lugs which are secured to the rods 58 to move therewith.

These contact lugs are designed to contact with the blocks 52 as the timing wheel rotates, to operate certain valve members 37 at predetermined intervals so that the proper proportion of materials may be forced into the washing machine in carrying out certain formulas of cleaning fluids.

It will therefore be seen that by removing certain rods and placing them in certain other openings of the timing wheel, the quantity of certain material vused in washing, may

be varied, it being understood that the contact lugs, while they are secured to the rods, 'they are held on the rods by frictional contact and may be removed or adjusted along the rods to accomplish the purpose of the invention.

An air pipe 61 is in communication with the cylinder. 62in which the piston 63 operates, there being a rod 64 connected with-the piston which also has connection with the lever 9 to the end that when air is forced into the cylinder 62- the piston 63 will be forced downwardly moving the lever 9 downwardly and opening the valve 7 to allow the washing v fluid to drain from the drum 5.

It might be further stated that each of the tanks 20 and 21 is provided with an elongated opening covered by suitable translucent mate-. rial 65 so that the contents of the tank's may be viewed by the operator.

The tanks 20 and 21 may be filled in any suitable manner, as through the supply pipes 67 that are in communication with a suitable source of supply. Vent tubes 68 are provided at the upper ends of the tanks and allow the air from the tanks to escape, as the tanks are being filled with washing material.

In the operation of the device,-the rods of the timing wheel and contact lugs of the timing wheel are set to operate the valvesof the machine at predetermined intervals so that the cold water, hot water, bleaching material and liquid soap, will be supplied in predetermined quantities for washing certain materials eliminating any possibility of mixing too great a quantity of any particular material in the mixing ofthe washing solution.

I claim:

1. A device for feeding washingsolution to c I washing machines, comprising a plurality of pipes, valves for controlling the assage of material through the pipes, tov fee material to the washing machine, a timing wheel operating adjacent to the valves, said timing quantity of washing solution passing to the washing machine. 1

4. A device for feeding washing solution to washing machines, comprising a plurality of pipes, a pipe communicating with the washing machine and having communication with the plurality of pipes to receive material therefrom, pneumatically controlled valves for controlling the passage of material through the pipes, valves for controlling the action of the pneumatically controlled valves,

a timing wheel associated with the last mentioned valves, means for adjusting the throwof the last mentioned valves, and means for operating the last mentioned valves at intervals to proportion the quantity of material passing into the washing machine.

v 5. A device for feeding washing solution to washing machines, comprising a plurality of ture.

ERNST DAVID EDGREN.

wheel including a plurality of adjustable rods, and adjustable fingers on the rods for engaging the valves at intervals to operate the valves and proportion the quantities of material passing to the washing machine.

2. A device for feeding washing solution to washing machines, comprising a plurality of pipes, valves for controlling the passage of material through the pipes, means for establishing communication between the pipes and washing machine, pivoted members for operating the valves, adjustable members carried by the pivoted members, a-

. wheel associated with the pivoted members,

and means on the timing wheel fol-engaging the adjustable members to operate the valves at predetermined intervals to proportion the quantity of material passingto the washing machine. I F

3. A device for feeding washing solution to washing machines, comprising a plurality of pipes communicating with the washing machine, valves for controlling the passage of material through the pipes, valves-for con.-

trolling the first mentioned valves, pivoted members for operating. the latter walves, adjustable blocks carried by the pivoted mem-- bers for regulating the throw of the pivoted the adjustableblocks for operating the valves members, and a timing wheel associated with the pivoted members and-cooperating with 

